When one of us adopts 4R Plus, it matters. When all of us do, it’s transformative.

"I no-till soybeans, plant cover crops after seed corn harvest and have an extensive system of waterways. Cover crops solve a lot of problems like erosion, suppress weeds and improve soil health. I encourage farmers to rethink what they are doing for the betterment of the land. I made the decision years ago to invest in the soil that I’m making a living on. I’m interested in maintaining the land so it’s more productive now and for generations to come."

"I have increased no-till and cover crop acres to all the land I farm. This system works well with my cattle operation, as they feed on the cover crops, which lowers my feed, machinery and fuel costs. The cattle also clean up the crop residue to make it easier to plant in the spring. The added benefit is I’m improving the soil and maintaining top-end yields."

Tim Daly | Corn, Soybean and Cattle FarmerDubuque County, Iowa

"Annual soil testing helps me know what nutrients – and at what rate – the crops need for my strip-tilling system. I’m focused on returning the soil to the condition it was when I started farming. I’m seeing soil health improvements with cover crops. The added benefits of these practices are savings in labor and fuel. My crop yields continue to improve.
"

Wayne Watts | Corn, Soybean and Hog FarmerWright County, Iowa

"I no-till all of my soybean acres and strip-till all of my corn acres, which has improved the structure of the soil and saves time and fuel costs. Cover crops add soil health benefits and keep the valuable nutrients on the land. The benefits are cumulative – the longer these practices are in place the more soil improvement I see."

Doug Adams | Corn and Soybean FarmerHumboldt County, Iowa

"I use nutrient management practices and changed my tillage practices to strip tillage. I’ve also incorporated cover crops. When I consider the money I spend on different types of insurance to protect my assets, my most important asset as a farmer is my land."

Tim Smith | Corn and Soybean FarmerWright County, Iowa

"I use strip-tillage, strip-cropping, variable-rate nutrients and cover crops. I started the conservation practices for economic reasons, especially strip-tilling. A neighbor wanted me to try strip-cropping. We found out that the economic benefits from it are tremendous, and it’s also a great conservation piece. It keeps the soil intact and actually holds more snow in the wintertime."

Dean Sponheim | Corn and Soybean FarmerMitchell County, Iowa

"I know that if we don’t take care of the ground, the ground isn’t going to take care of us. We feel it is our legacy to leave the farm in better shape than when we got it."

Jolene Riessen | Corn and Soybean FarmerIda and Sac counties, Iowa

"I did an equipment cost analysis for eight years and concluded I was saving $65 per acre in equipment and $27 an acre in labor costs each year with a combination of strip-till/no-till compared to conventional tillage. Using no-till, strip-till and cover crops, I’ve seen organic matter levels grow from 3 percent in 1984 to 4 to 6 percent in 2015."

Wayne Fredericks | Corn and Soybean FarmerMitchell County, Iowa

Stay Up-To-Date on Soil Health

Sign up today to get notices when new information on nutrient management and conversation practices is available.